A year after the NFL lockout, many of its players should have no
complaints about what they're earning while working in the most
physically demanding professional team sport. In Forbes magazine's 2012 just-released list of the world's 100 highest-paid athletes, American pro football stars make up nearly a third of the spots.

Although boxers Floyd Mayweather ($85 million) and Manny Pacquiao
($62 million) dominate at the top with how much money they reel in
combined from salary and endorsements, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton
Manning, at 10th overall ($42.4 million) is first among the 30 NFL
players ranked.

Following the NFL is Major League Baseball, with Alex Rodriguez ($33
million) and four other New York Yankees powering the 22 MLB
representatives.

The NBA comes in third with 13 players, and although three of
them—LeBron James ($53 million), Kevin Durant ($25.5 million) and Dwyane
Wade ($24.7) are currently in the Finals—several more are in line to
play even longer as part of Team USA in next month's Olympics.

Based on the pool of 20 finalists to represent the Red, White, Blue
in London, eight are among those who earn the most green on the
hardwood. That doesn't include Pau Gasol, who will be playing for Spain
against the United States.

Other Olympians in the top 100 are five tennis players who will
first attempt to conquer the All-England club at Wimbledon starting next
week. Record-setting sprinter Usain Bolt also made it ($20.3 million)
as he prepares to add to the three gold medals he won in Beijing four
years ago.

NFL (30)

10. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos, $42.4 million

12. Haloti Ngata, Baltimore Ravens, $37.3 million

13. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals, $36.8 million

14. Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions, $36 million

15. Charles Johnson, Carolina Panthers, $34.4 million

16. Mario Williams, Buffalo Bills, $33.2 million

22. Darrelle Revis, New York Jets, $28.3 million

27. Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams, $27.8 million

28. Tom Brady, New England Patriots, $27.1 million

30. Eli Manning, New York Giants, $26.6 million

31. LaMarr Woodley, Pittsburgh Steelers, $26.5 million

38. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets, $24.2 million

43. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers, $23.3 million

50. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles, $22 million

51. Logan Mankins, New England Patriots, $21.9 million

51. Richard Seymour, Oakland Raiders, $21.9 million

53. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings, $21.5 million

56. Jon Beason, Carolina Panthers, $21.4 million

58. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions, $20.9 million

63. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, New York Jets, $20.3 million

66. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers, $19.9 million

67. Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns, $19.8 million

68. Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs, $19.6 million

71. Ryan Kalil, Carolina Panthers, $19.4 million

77. Robert Mathis, Indianapolis Colts, $18.7 million

78. Lawrence Timmons, Pittsburgh Steelers, $18.6 million

85. Jonathan Joseph, Houston Texans, $18.1 million

86. Darnell Dockett, Arizona Cardinals, $18 million

96. Russell Okung, Seattle Seahawks, $17.1 million

99. Rolando McClain, Oakland Raiders, $16.7 million

MLB (22)

18. Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees, $33 million

29. Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins, $27 million

36. Derek Jeter, New York Yankees, $24.5 million

39. Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners, $24 million

40. CC Sabathia, New York Yankees, $23.8 million

40. Johan Santana, New York Mets, $23.8 million

45. Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees, $22.8 million

49. Vernon Wells, Anaheim Angels, $22.1 million

53. Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies, $21.5 million

59. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers, $20.8 million

61. Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies, $20.6 million

68. Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers, $19.6 million

76. Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants, $18.9 million

78. Carlos Lee, Houston Astros, $18.6 million

82. Alfonso Soriano, Chicago Cubs, $18.3 million

82. Torii Hunter, Anaheim Angels, $18.3 million

87. Matt Holliday, St. Louis Cardinals, $17.6 million

88. Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers, $17.5 million

91. Carlos Zambrano, Miami Marlins, $17.4 million

91. Albert Pujols, Anaheim Angels, $17.4 million

98. Carl Crawford, Boston Red Sox, $16.9 million

100. Jake Peavy, Chicago White Sox, $16.6 million

NBA (13)

4. LeBron James, Miami Heat, $53 million

6. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, $52.3 million

33. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic, $25.6 million

34. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, $25.5 million

35. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat, $24.7 million

44. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks, $22.9 million

46. Amare Stoudemire, New York Knicks, $22.7 million

57. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics, $21.1 million

72. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers, $19.2 million

73. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs, $19.1 million

84. Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets, $18.2 million

88. Rashard Lewis, Washington Wizards, $17.5 million

95. Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers, $17.2 million

Soccer (10)

8. David Beckham, Los Angeles Galaxy, $46 million

9. Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid, $42.5 million

11. Lionel Messi, FC Barcelona, $39 million

37. Wayne Rooney, Manchester United, $24.3 million

59. Kaká, Real Madrid, $20.8 million

65. Sergio Aguero, Manchester City, $20.1 million

68. Fernando Torres, Chelsea, $19.6 million

73. Yaya Touré, Manchester City, $19.1 million

88. John Terry, Chelsea, $17.5 million

97. Steven Gerrard, Liverpool, $17 million

Tennis (5)

5. Roger Federer, $52.7 million

16. Rafael Nadal, $33.2 million

26. Maria Sharapova, $27.9 million

61. Novak Djokovic, $20.6 million

81. Li Na, $18.4 million

Golf (5)

3. Tiger Woods, $59.4 million

7. Phil Mickelson, $47.8 million

48. Luke Donald, $22.2 million

91. Ernie Els, $17.4 million

91. Rory McIlroy, $17.4 million

Boxing (4)

1. Floyd Mayweather, $85 million

2. Manny Pacquiao, $62 million

24. Wladimir Klitschko, $28 million

75. Miguel Cotto, $19 million

NASCAR (4)

23. Dale Earnhardt Jr., $28.2 million

42. Jeff Gordon, $23.6 million

47. Tony Stewart, $22.3 million

53. Jimmie Johnson, $21.5 million

Formula One racing (3)

19. Fernando Alonso, $32 million

20. Michael Schumacher, $30 million

24. Lewis Hamilton, $28 million

Cricket (2)

31. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, $26.5 million

78. Sachin Tendulkar, $18.6 million

Motorcycle racing (1)

20. Valentino Rossi, $30 million

Track and field (1)

63. Usain Bolt, $20.3 million

Which of the above are the least deserving of the place? Most deserving? Tell us what you think below.

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